MSNBC is reporting that Republicans pushed a provision stripping public employees of their collective bargaining rights through the state Senate Wednesday evening after finding a way to bypass the chamber's missing Democrats.

Republican senators separated the provision from Gov. Scott Walker's controversial budget bill, removing the requirement that 20 senators be present for a vote on the anti-union measure.

The vote in the Senate was 18-1. Sen. Dale Schultz was the sole no vote. No Democrats were present.

"You are cowards!" spectators in the Senate gallery screamed as lawmakers voted. Within hours, a crowd of a few hundred protesters inside the Capitol had grown to several thousand, more than had been in the building at any point during weeks of protests.

"The whole world is watching!" they shouted as they pressed up against the heavily guarded entrance to the Senate chamber. Did we mention that Republicans also increased the cost of healthcare for public employees?

One could say the Democrats engaged in a high-profile game of chicken and lost. The business of the state had to move forward. Others might say that Republicans acted as bullies, stripping public employees of collective bargaining rights, despite the call from Democrats to compromise on the measure. One thing is for sure, this is a hot mess and demonstrates just how divided Democrats and Republicans are in this country. That's never a good thing, especially for the people.